Efforts that are required for our advancement are beyond human powers because the desire to enjoy alone cannot free itself from egoism. However, we can act in a way that we move towards correction to the best of our ability in the circumstances that were prepared for us by the Light.

So far, our exertions are associated with our current level; that is, they are at still, vegetative, and animate levels. However, if we make all the necessary efforts at an animate level, the Upper Light will start influencing and changing us. The quantity of efforts needed will be breached and the Upper Light will finish the work as it is said: “applied efforts and found…”

However, if the Light rules everything there is and influences our desires, how can we possibly make any efforts, even the tiniest moves? There is nothing but the Light and the desire that opposes it. The third, additional force that allows us to act is a result of the shattering of the desire.

It means that there are multiple splinters of the desire around us that are detached from each other because of their egoistic nature. If we acted at our “level” and tried to become closer together with others, we would “change” under the influence of the Light. This world is the last and the lowest step in the Universe that allows us to act against our own will. That’s why one is able to unite with one’s friend as if they were brought closer together by the Light. This isn’t really real; desires do not change because of our actions, and yet our impact on the Light does change and that’s why the system works.

The miracle happens at the level of this world that is so low and minor that it is completely opposite to spirituality. On one hand, this world is totally detached from the spiritual realm; on the other hand, it presents to us a wonderful chance that allows us, through physical and external convergence and false actions to influence our internal desires. Our internal desires impact the Light that Reforms, which in its turn begins secretly influencing us until it truly changes our desire.

It means that even though we dwell in this world and have not advanced too far beyond monkeys, we still have an internal possibility to grab the end of a thread that is extended to us from Above, which will pull us out into the world of the Upper Light. If we use the remedies that are given to us and if we understand that they are granted to us from Above, we will trigger the vital awakening from below (itaruta de-letata) that will in its turn elicit the awakening from Above (itaruta de-leila).

To achieve it, all we need is a clear understanding of the sequence of work to be done: what exactly we have to achieve and what the Light actually is. This kind of understanding will protect us from making mistakes and from false expectations about salvation coming without our preliminary exertions and thinking that with time everything will be organized all by itself. One should never be misled to think that there are people who can easily overcome all stages, and who do not have to go through the “four hundred (400) years of exile.” They just don’t exist. We should keep in mind that we have to do everything ourselves and work hard to build a group, attain unity, and mutual guarantee and reveal the power of connection between us.

If we realize that we are given every possible remedy to achieve the result we aspire for, to implement the purpose of our life, we will not be despaired; rather, we will proceed with our work and achieve success. Besides, after all calculations are done, we will have to rise above the results and understand that the mere opportunity to apply efforts is in fact the reward we seek!
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah lesson 11/27/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Preparation for the Lesson 

Lesson on the Topic: Preparation for the Convention

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Introduction to The Book of Zohar” 

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Rabash, “Love of Friends”: The most important thing is to always remember the purpose of creation, which is known to be “to do good to His creations.”… In other words, the purpose of creation is not necessarily for a select group, rather the purpose of creation belongs to all creations without exception. It concerns not necessarily merely the strong and skillful, the brave people who can overcome, but all the people.

See the “Introduction to Talmud Eser Sefirot,” Item 21, Midrash Raba, Parashat “This is the Blessing”: The Creator said unto Israel: “Regard the whole wisdom and the whole Light are easy things. He who fears Me and does deeds of Torah, the entire wisdom and Light are in his heart.”…and do not despair mid-way and flee the campaign, but rather believe that the Lord can even help the person as low and ignoble as I am. It means that the Creator will bring me near Him and I will be able to attain adhesion with Him.

The main thing is patience, perseverance! Anything, just don’t run away, and eventually you will reach fear. Fear begins with the usual animal fear of blows. Gradually, it becomes more and more clarified. Thus, we come to the blows by our egoism, pride. Then there will be blows of envy, similar to those that we received yesterday when we heard about the extraordinary achievements of the group that is now working on the program of integral education.

This news deprived many of sleep, but it is useful because this helps us to make a good discernment. Now, we understand a bit better what envy means on the spiritual level. I just needed to turn this envy from “Why don’t I have this?” to the opposite, as much as it is possible, to push the friends forward to success. This is very difficult.

Everything depends on the concern, fear for the common well-being, to the highest states. Each of these experiences includes many feelings: fear, envy, greed, and ambition. At the beginning, they work as negative factors, but then it is necessary to take them from zero, to move them to the positive side.

There is a beautiful, positive form against any negative quality. But it is awakened in a person only accordingly to his love of friends. Thus we can turn malicious envy, poisonous hatred, into something constructive, for useful advancement, etc. One property exists against the other: nothing disappears. If a person is advancing correctly, then all the basics are constantly growing, continuing to burn in him more and more.

There is a type of hatred which is called “hatred in service of the Creator.” That is, I care about the success of the Creator’s army, all my friends. I do everything for their support, like a mother who is worried that her children are healthy, strong, steadfast, and loving each other. My heart aches for all of them.

I begin to distinguish between myself and my egoism. For the time being, my egoism still has its power; it helps me to fight for my connection with the group, for its support. This is our work until the end of correction. Our egoism will grow and prosper, helping us to reveal all fine details one against the other.

Otherwise, how can I find out? There must be positive jealousy, negative ego, and altruistic fear. Otherwise, I will lose the flavor. We cannot “just love” or “just envy,” we have no system of measurement if two points do not exist simultaneously.
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From the Preparation for the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/29/13

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Question: How can we organize the mutual cooperation in the group so I will change it and it will change me in return? Are the articles of Rabash enough for us today or do we need to add something to it?

Answer: You should determine what we have to add to the articles of Rabash. Everyone adds something. It’s as if everyone rewrites the entire Torah. The Torah is not a book but actually a person’s whole attitude towards the Creator, towards everything that comes from Above.

A person has to rewrite the Torah, as it says: “Write it on your heart.” He has to write the Torah back from himself to the Creator, about the upper Providence and everything that was created, about everything that descends upon a person from Above and is arranged for him. A person has to respond internally and return it to the Creator. This is called “writing the book of the Torah.”

So everyone is called “a student who renews the words of the Torah,” since he does it by himself, out of his desire and he writes what no one else can write, none of the parts of that infinite desire. Everyone writes by himself.

Therefore, there is the commandment for everyone to write a book of the Torah. In the past, people actually sat down and wrote it.

You are asking if we have to add anything to the articles of Rabash, yet each time you read an article, you understand it differently, it means that you rewrite it, add something to it and write your own article. Every time! All this is written because you work with your desires. Every time you organize your desires differently, it’s all added to the general desire, to the general correction, until all these forms reach the end of correction (Gmar Tikkun); this is called writing.
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From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/24/13, The Zohar

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The Zohar — Selected Excerpts, Parshat, “VaYikhael,” Item 112: Now that the upper King and Queen (Malchut) are in bonding and joy in those kisses, he who needs to ask questions and make requests shall make them because then is a time of good will.

Question: What is a “time of goodwill?”

Answer: A person has to look for chance and for a time of goodwill that is illuminated upon him from Above. This is actually true, the giving of the Torah occurs every moment, and every moment you have good opportunities. The Creator has no time, there is no today or tomorrow. It’s all with regard to a person who attains spirituality and all the changes are for the better or for the worse. It sounds as if the Creator is changing, turning from side to side, to the good side and to the bad side. A person feels all these changes inside him.

So we have to look for the opportune moment and not relegate it to the Upper Providence: “I will wait and perhaps things will change one day. Tomorrow will be better.” What does it mean “tomorrow will be better?” Today, the next moment, you will create a state called “tomorrow!” You cannot do so if your animal doesn’t allow that, if you are seriously ill, God forbid, or if you are very tired, since we don’t exist above the body yet. But if you can, then there is no such thing as a time of goodwill from Above, but only from below; everything depends on your efforts.

Although we do sometimes feel that a “cloud” covers us and that we are in the dark or things are blurry, we should wait and it will pass. It says: “Time does what the mind doesn’t do.” So does that mean that there are good and bad times?

Still it’s all with regard to a person, as Baal HaSulam says: “and he who can wait until tomorrow will attain his mind when his life is over.” There is no tomorrow in spirituality. Don’t wait even a second!
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From the 2^nd Part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/24/13, The Zohar

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We give different names to the Upper Force. It is Upper not because it is positioned in elevation in this world, but rather because of its qualitative exaltation over all earthly forces. It is immeasurably more powerful than any other force; it is the authentic root of all other forces; that’s why it is called the Upper.

Its names derive from the way it manifests itself in relation to us and the way we feel it. In fact, its names represent Sefirot, since the Upper Light is sensed by us, by the receiving desires, in accordance with the way it illuminates inside the receiving vessel. The word “Sefira” means “glowing” (sapir). Sefira Keter is a source of the Light; all other Sefirot, other names, follow it below.

Let’s highlight some of the Lights. Most often we say “the Creator” (Bo-Re) since He is the One Who made the “creation” (Beria) – something that stands out (Bar), separate from itself, something that goes out of its own borders. In this connection stretching from top-to-bottom, the name points at His status, His attitude to the creation He created. On our part, in our aspiration from the bottom up, “Bo-Re” means “come and see” (Bo-Reh), which speaks of the state in which we can see Him.

Another name of the Creator is Elokim  (ים – אלה). From top to bottom, it means “MI – ELE” (אלה – מי). “ELE” – stands for AHP, and “MI”  Galgalta ve Eynaim. When we rise to Bina, we connect to Galgalta ve Eynaim with AHP and reveal a relationship of the Light towards the desire that is called “Elokim.” Its gematria is the same as “Nature” (הטבע), since it stems out of and builds itself from Bina. Thus, the nature of the Upper is Bina, whereas the nature of the lower is Malchut.

There is a designation of HaVaYaH, Adonai: the Supreme, the Lord. In fact, HaVAYaH is not an appellation per se, but rather a structure in which, according to the screen (Masach), the Light reveals itself. In general, HaVaYaH includes all names since, except for this appellation, nothing else has ever been created.

To sum it up, we give names to the Light in accordance with the way it manifests itself in us. This explains why there is no “Creator” per se; rather, there is only our perception of Him. It is said: “from Your actions we know You” “the judge has only what his eyes see.” We have to modify our approach and learn how to differently analyze our discernment of reality. After all, “The opinion of the Torah is opposite the opinion of the landlords.”

Today, everybody has his or her own idea about God. However, in this world, “God” is just a psychological need of humans, a desire to depend on somebody who is great and kind. It justifies our existence; otherwise, it is not clear why and for what we live, and who will pay for our troubles and affliction in the next world. This psychological approach allows us to pray for help and even “receive” it.

Yet, can this approach exist in reality without a screen and the Reflected Light, without real changes that we go through? By no means can it be so. Faith in this world is a psychological phenomenon: By appealing to the Creator, we change our desires, then the Light pours on new desires in a different way. As a result, we exit the previous state and enter the next phase, thus changing our sensations.

In fact, there is only the Light and the desire, nothing else. The time will come when people will open their eyes and see what they managed to build throughout thousands of years… Yes, it helped them to advance, but only to eventually come to the conclusion that this entire world, with all its illusions, is worth nothing. When people will come to this realization, they will find out the truth and it will justify everything that happened to them.

Nevertheless, nowadays we should not delay the disclosure of the situation we actually are in. There is no other way out: all other approaches and methods except Kabbalah are just idle contemplations that were developed out of our egoistic fantasies.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/9/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Lesson on the Topic: Preparation for the Convention

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” Item 9

The Book of Zohar — Selected Excerpts, Parashat, “VaYikahel,” “The Ascent of the Prayer,” Item 131

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Baal HaSulam “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”

The inclination for envy elicits the sages from among them, as our sages said, “Author’s envy increases wisdom.” The strong-willed, with the inclination for envy, excel in acquiring wisdom and knowledge. It is like the speaking degree in the whole of reality, in which the operating force is not limited by time and place, but is collective and encompasses every item in the world, throughout all times.

Also, it is the nature of the fire of envy to be general, encompassing all times and the whole reality. This is because it is the conduct of envy: if one had not seen the object in one’s friend’s possession, the desire for it would not have awakened in one at all.

The force of envy is the most powerful force, particularly in the workers of the Creator and a little less in ordinary people. If it is possible to say that ordinary people have envy in the same way we mean.

It is said that, “Author’s envy increases wisdom”; that is, this is the only force that acts, pushes, and pulls a person forward. It is a very useful force. That is why, we need to show each other how much we invest in the group, try to love friends, to exaggerate good examples, and not be afraid that you may appear immodest and not righteous.

You should not present yourself as a hidden righteous. On the contrary, your demonstrative example of showing your devotion, enthusiasm greatly benefits your friends. Understanding this, the group already shows the principle of “love they neighbor as yourself.” Indeed, I am interested in seeing that others are better than me!

Usually, our egoism wants to belittle everyone; even if I am absolutely nothing, at least others are even less than me. Here, on the contrary, I want to see others higher than me. Although this is against my egoism and is unpleasant, I begin to criticize myself—but it is for the good of my advancement.

Thus we show examples to young children, “Look at this boy, what he can do! Try to do the same”! It is natural for a child to learn from others’ examples. It is the same in spiritual development: We need to show each other a good example and deliberately stir up envy.

In the outside world, people love that others envy them and suffer, seeing them so successful, rich, and powerful. But here, it is opposite, by allowing others to see me as strong and goal-oriented, I help them because I want them to be better than me. Thus, I raise the group according to the principle, “The one who chooses a better environment is rewarded with success and advancement.”

We need to use this means, the lever, the fire of envy that burns us, with the utmost cunning, trying to awaken good envy in the friends. We need not only play in relation with each other, but also to talk about this, to learn from all the forms, which others show, and become like them and even better. Then the group will become stronger, grow, and move forward.
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From the Preparation for the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/26/13

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All changes occur in the desire to receive while the Upper Light is in a state of absolute rest. At the same time, we know that everything comes from Above and that there is none else besides Him, the Creator, and that He alone decides and acts. So how can it be that one time we say that everything is determined by the Light and another time that everything depends on the vessel, on our efforts, on the desire, on our exertion, and our work?

We can see it in two ways: from the perspective of the Light or from the perspective of the desire. But it’s clear that all the attributes and the software that are part of the Light operate in a concealed manner on the desire and activate it. This is called the “force of the operator on the operated.”

We can assess the Light that operates the desire according to its actions in the desire. This means that all our revelations start from the vessel, from the desire. I don’t reveal the Creator who operates on me, but rather, within my vessels, I discover the phenomena by which I guess that He operates inside me.

The Light is always there and I only discover its influence. Then it seems that my desires are full and that they begin to illuminate like sparkling Lights, but they only reveal the Light that is already in them. So it’s better to look at the vessels from the side, since it helps us focus on the work correctly and not wait for something to come from Above from the Light.

The Upper Light doesn’t stop its illumination on the lower even for a moment. This means that its influence doesn’t change because it’s good and benevolent for all. The force doesn’t change, but only the vessels do under the influence of this force. I must say so since it obliges me to take care of my vessels, to think about the connection with the friends, and to absorb additional spiritual deficiencies from them.

Thanks to the additional deficiency that I receive from the connection, by the greater importance of the goal, I demand the Light! I don’t ask it to illuminate on me more, but rather to open up my desire, and then the Light can influence me more.

My desire opens up and the Light remains the same. This is a significant difference in approach. Do we just pray and ask for mercy or do we know that everything depends on our work? Our desire is a result of our work and of the connection between us. This is how we seem to operate the Light, but, in fact, we only open the channels in our desire to receive in which the Light can be revealed.

If I speak from the perspective of the vessels, I oblige myself to constantly worry about them. I don’t wait for the Light to change, and I don’t shed a tear when it doesn’t operate on me and doesn’t fill me, and I don’t blame it for what it did to me and to the whole world in the past. This means that I don’t see the Light as responsible for everything as people commonly do when they make a mistake. After all, nothing depends on the Light because “He has given a law that cannot be broken.” He has given a person everything, like a scepter, so that he will be king and rule. So everything depends only on me and there is no one else I can count on.

Therefore, we must go out to disseminate and support the group and not be materialists and mystics who count on some hidden upper force. This is the great difference between the different religions and Kabbalah, that is, between beliefs and science. In Kabbalah all the tools are in our hands since we know that our desire determines everything and that the Creator doesn’t decide anything; He actually gives us full control.

So why do Kabbalists say that everything depends on the Creator? If we discover that everything is up to us, we will discover that everything is indeed up to Him, according to the work that we do. Therefore, it says, “I have exerted and I have found, believe!” But this is actually something the world isn’t ready to accept. Only by our efforts can we reach anything, and otherwise we can keep on praying forever. At the same time we say, “if only one could pray all day.” This means that we should reach a deficiency in our prayer that will be constantly renewed thanks to our work on the connection between us. So the prayer is the work of the heart, above our desire. This is a critical point and it is the foundation of all the spiritual work. This is the bone of contention that distinguishes the wisdom of Kabbalah from all the other beliefs.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/19/13, Talmud Eser Sefirot

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Question: What does it mean to try to connect while reading The Book of Zohar?

Answer: Reading The Zohar is the time when you shouldn’t use your mind but your soul. Now you have to think about how we should connect in order to be like a magnifying glass by which we draw the sun rays in order to light something that is under the glass.

How can we concentrate and focus on this point? If we do, we will feel the Light that influences us going through us, illuminating our desire to receive and changing it. Then the desire will restrict itself, acquire a Masach (screen) and will begin to work.

Our whole work is done by this magnifying glass that is becoming more powerful. Our work is in the growing concentration of the group in quantity and quality so that a stronger Light will come and bring us to a more substantial and more qualitative connection. Then we will discover the spiritual state in the connection between us. What we discover is called the spiritual world.

Question: Do I build this magnifying glass by my efforts or is it created by everyone’s efforts?

Answer: By all our efforts. The magnifying glass itself isn’t important. What’s important is the central point in the magnifying glass, in which all the rays of Light connect and descend through it.

Question: How do we know that all our efforts are successful?

Answer: According to the result: You you will receive the desired change, as it says: “I labored and I found.” The exertion is in the connection between us, in one heart and in mutual guarantee, and the finding is when we discover between us the first attribute of bestowal called the first spiritual level.

Question: What will change in me after this change?

Answer: You will not only want to bestow but will also be able to bestow.
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From the 2nd part of the the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/08/13, The Book of Zohar

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